Why did my Mac Desktop folder disappear, and how can I get it back?

Quick Navigation:

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.

Why are files missing from my Mac desktop?

Unlike Windows computers, Macs don't have a "My Computer" feature, so many users will place files and folders directly on the desktop for easy access. If you're one of these people and your Mac desktop folders are missing, don't panic! This doesn't necessarily mean your data is lost. Here are some common reasons why your Mac's desktop folders may have disappeared.

• You agreed to use iCloud Backup for your Mac desktop
• You accidentally deleted or moved files from your desktop
• You inadvertently hid files on your Mac desktop

Fortunately, there are ways to recover lost files, as the following sections explain.

Solution 1: Disable iCloud Backup

Applies to: Users who have Desktop and Documents Folders in iCloud enabled

If you've previously set up something like iCloud on your Mac and elected to share your files across all devices via iCloud Drive, I can tell you why your Desktop folder might be missing. Once this option is selected, all the contents of your Desktop move to iCloud. To get your Mac's Desktop folder back, follow these steps.

Step 1: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud.

Step 2. Tap the “Options” button next to “iCloud Drive.”

Step 3: Deselect the “Sync desktop and documents folders” option.

Step 4: Click Finish.

After you turn off “Desktop & Documents,” you can manually move all of your files and folders from iCloud to your Mac desktop.

Solution 2: Recover Accidentally Deleted Files and Folders

Applies to: Users who accidentally delete desktop folders.

Another possible case is that the desktop folder gets deleted accidentally. To recover deleted files from Mac Trash, you have two options – either restore it from Trash or use a third-party data recovery software.

#1. Recover Deleted Files from Mac Trash

Step 1: Find and open the Trash on your Mac.

Step 2. Check if your missing folder is in the Trash. If it is, drag it to your desktop. Or right-click it and select “Put Back” to restore the deleted file to its original location.

#2. Recover Permanently Deleted Files Using Tools

If you're sure that you deleted some files and can't find them in the Trash, this is a good option. The Mac Data Recovery Wizard is a data recovery tool designed specifically for macOS. Its main purpose is to help you recover files and data that can't be restored directly from the Trash. It does this by scanning your hard drive thoroughly and listing all recoverable data.

Now, you can download the software from the below button and retrieve data as per the guidelines.

Note: You can create a backup by first clicking on “Disk Backup” on the left. The software will then recover the deleted files from the backup image. This prevents further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Scan the deleted files

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD that contained the important data and files you deleted, then click “Search for lost files.”

Step 2. Find Lost Files

The software will scan the selected volume quickly and thoroughly, trying to find as many deleted files as possible. The required files can be filtered by Type and Path options.

Step 3: Recover the deleted file(s)

Preview the deleted files by double-clicking them, and then hit the “Recover” button to get them back.

Solution 3: Show Hidden Files on Mac

First, there's a quick way to check if your desktop icons are simply hidden.

Step 1: Open the Terminal on your Mac.

Step 2: Type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles true and press Return.

Step 3: Type killall Finder, then press Return.

Then, if you have any hidden files, hitting Enter will close the terminal and reveal all the hidden files on your desktop.

What to Know When Switching from Windows to Mac

If you're new to Mac after using Windows, this guide will help you get accustomed to the Mac operating system more quickly.

Conclusions

This article covers common scenarios when your Desktop folder on Mac is missing. Based on feedback from other users, most of the time you don't see the Desktop folder because you've enabled iCloud backup. So, no need to panic, and no need to worry about data loss. The Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is always there to help.